Independence, dependence, manifest and latent masculinity-femininity: some complex relationships among four complex variables.

Abstract

It is a common assumption that dependence is associated with femininity and/or being female and that independence or autonomy is associated with masculinity and/or being male. As a test of this assumption, 36 children, 20 boys and 16 girls, of kindergarten age, were rated by their teachers on Beller's scales for dependence (DEP) and independence or autonomous achievement striving (AAS). As a measure of manifest masculinity-femininity, Brown's It Scale for Children (ITSC) was individually given, in a modified form, to each child. Similarly, Franck's Drawing Completion Test (DCT) was administered as a measure of latent masculinity-femininity. There were no significant differences between boys and girls on DEP; however, girls scored higher than boys on AAS. The correlations between the four variables for each sex indicated that for girls, conforming behavior, as reflected in high AAS in a kindergarten situation, was related to manifest femininity; for girls, latent masculinity was related to DEP which, in light of the content of Beller's scales, was interpreted as representing active intrusion rather than passive dependence; the measures of manifest and latent masculinity-femininity were positively correlated for boys but not for girls.